Chapter 8: The Rise of Medieval Culture

Autun Tympanum

Built in early medieval period on the Cathedral at Autun in Burgundy. The scene on the tympanum depicted the Last Judgment. There were sinners on one side and saints on the other, as well as vivid depictions of demons. Souls were being weighed on a balance. Its theme is very different than in high Gothic tympanums (which were human, accepting); Autun's reflects the themes of the time: judgmental, focused on importance of morality (scare them into submission).

Carolingian Renaissance

By opening his famous palace school at Aachen, Charlemagne helped to initiate the Carolingian Renaissance. Literacy in Western Europe before Charlemagne was rather spotty; it existed, but hardly thrived, in certain monastic centers. Because of his great efforts in encouraging literacy as well as putting lots of effort into making/supporting art, there was now a place in western Europe for art to flourish. Revival of learning-- Charlegmane promoted education partly to help unify his empire, but also to train leaders to lead it. Led to the development of Carolingian minuscule.

Charlemagne's Chapel at Aachen

Charlemagne greatly admired Classics leader, and tried to copy there techniques for his empire. So, he wanted to construct a major piece of architecture for his empire. Was constructed in Aachen (right in the center of his empire) with a central plan based on an octagon and cloisters surrounding it. It is a remaining component of Charlemagne's Palace of Aachen in what is now Germany. Is a central monument of the Carolingian Renaissance. The chapel held the remains of Charlemagne.

Aachen

City where Charlemagne established his palace school and also built the Palatine Chapel. He spent most winters here. It became the focus of his court and the political center of his empire. After his death, the king was buried in the church which he had built.

The Bayeux Tapestry

Created by a team of women to describe the invasion of England by William the Conqueror in a continuous narrative. Its narrative functioned much in the same way as the continuous narrative of the Ionic frieze of the Parthenon.

The Book of Hours

Devotional book. Was made slightly after the early medieval period but the basis for it came from the 9th 10th century illuminated manuscripts. It prominently features Virgin Mary. Was made by the Limbherg brothers, who were professional manuscript makers. Focused on images, few words. The art doesn't have a single linear perspective, some images seem warped with multiple perspectives. Realism wasn't always the goal.

The Venerable Bede

English monk who wrote more than 60 books and became known as the Father of English History for writing his Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation.

The Morality Plays: Everyman

Everyman is representative of everybody in the world (but is a unique character in this play, serves as an allegory). God is unhappy because nobody is listening to him, so he allows Death to come down and remind Everyman of how he should behave. It is a morality play. Preached the value of confession, good deeds, and knowledge.

Early English drama

Formal theater ended with the Roman conquest, but returned 500 years later in English churches. Monks would reanact scenes from the bible. Performances eventually became too secular to be performed in the churches.

Rothswitha

German nun and poet. Wrote moralistic plays involving religious conversion, such as The Conversion of the Harlot Thais, and preaching steadfastness of faith during times of persecution.

Monophonic

Having a single melodic line.

Ambulatory

In a church, a continuation of the side aisles into a passageway that extends behind the choir and apse and allows traffic to flow to the chapels, which are often placed in this area (from ambulare, Latin for "to walk")

Tribune Gallery

In architecture, the space between the nave arcade and the clerestory that is used for traffic above the side aisles on the second stage of the elevation.

England after Fall of Rome

Three tribes pushed into England (they were pushed from Asia): Anglos, Saxons, Jutes. Later, around 700 CE, people came down to England from countries like Ireland. Monks brought literature and writing to England, which caused England to become literate and Christian.

The Second Shepard's Play

Was written for the Festival at York. It tells stories of shepherds going to visit Christ. Had many secular elements, wasn't completely a morality play.

Gregorian Chants

Were monophonic (one sound per one syllable). They were only melodies, no harmonies. Also used the melisma at the end of a phrase (more than one sound per syllable). Were usually one, but sometimes more, voice singing one melodic line.

Quem Quaeritis

9th century manuscript used for Easter celebration. Literally translates to "Whom do you see? Monks played women who came to the tomb to see Jesus; the angel says: he is not here, he has risen. Gradually became more elaborate until it was too big for the church and was performed in towns (some thought it was too secular. It was a major part of Easter services. On par with Greek drama in that it was born out of religious ceremony. Very significant because it was the basis for medieval theater (rebirth of theater).

Engaged column

A column embedded in a wall and partly projecting from the surface of the wall.

Cloister

A covered walkway, particularly in a monastery, convent, college, or church, with a wall on one side and a row of columns open to a quadrangle on the other side.

Melisma

A group of notes or tones sung to a single syllable of text.

Vulgate Bible

A late-fourth-century version of the Bible, largely translated into Latin by Saint Jerome.

Narthex

A lobby or vestibule that leads to the nave of a church.

Polymath

A person of great learning and achievement in several fields of study, especially unrelated fields such as the arts and the sciences.

Barrel Vault

A roofed-over space or tunnel constructed as an elongated arch.

Refectory

A room used for communal dining, as in a monastery or college.

Carolingian Minuscule

A script which developed as a calligraphic standard in Europe so that the Latin alphabet could be easily recognized by the literate class from one region to another. Codices, pagan and Christian texts, and educational material were written in Carolingian minuscule throughout the Carolingian Renaissance.

Apse

A semicircular or polygonal projection of a building with a semicircular dome, especially on the east end of a church.

Tympanum

A semicircular space above the doors of a cathedral.

Book of Hours

An illuminated manuscript that prominently features the Virgin Mary. It was made by the Limbherg brothers, who were professional manuscript makers. It focuses on images, few words. The art doesn't have a single linear perspective, some images seem somewhat warped with multiple perspectives. Realism wasn't always the goal.

Charlegmane

Around 700 CE Charlemagne, the King of the Franks, came to control and united Europe against the common enemy of Islam. He was later crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope. He wanted monasteries to open schools and put an emphasis on education. He also recruited scholars to keep Classical texts alive and correct errors in texts, especially one that had liturgical uses. His rule started the period known as the Carolingean Renaissance.

Illuminated Manuscripts

Made of Velom, a type of paper made of animal skin. They were only used with best, most expensive inks. Art in the margins had some whimsy, usually represented what the patrons wanted (most of this art is reflecting the people paying for it). Names of the artists aren't written on them. Calligraphy is delicate and beautiful. They were religious in nature, not secular. Their purpose was to draw reader into closer relationship with God (like a devotional).

The Utrecht Psalter

Masterpiece of the Carolingian Renaissance. Contains the whole Psalter, decorated with playful pen drawings around the text of the psalms. Its style has much in common with early Christian illustration. Significant because its many styles of different countries reflect an international flavor of Carolingian manuscript art that was not seen until around the fourteenth century.

Song of Roland

Memory of Charlemagne was still alive at the time. It embellished an actual battle between Charlemagne on the border with span (ca. 777 and 778) and used a hero Roland, to teach the values of patriotism and courage. It is an epic poem that portrays little interest in historical accuracy and instead focuses on embellishing military glory.

Sacred Music

Monasteries were centers for the development of sacred music. Charlemagne promoted the Gregorian chant, which was monophonic and sung a cappella. The use of tropes, or verbal elaborations of text, became a standard of liturgical music.

Hildegard of Bingen

Nun, philosopher, physician, painter, musician, and preacher. Her main literary works are Scivias, which recounts her religious visions and their meanings, and the medical treatises Physica and Causae et Curae. Her visions were exceptionally detailed and often described God's call to her to reveal the mysteries embedded in scripture and to preach them.

Art of the "Dark Ages"

Often in Scandinavian style. Most popular art was the illuminated manuscript. Texts were copied by hand by monks in monasteries, so personal and specific decorations were added. Examples of these decorations are gold leaf and elaborate handwriting. The handwriting was such an elaborate art that sometimes teachers were brought in to teach monks how to better use their handwriting.

Beowulf

Old English epic poem written sometime between 800 and 1000 CE. It wasn't copying Greeks/Romans; was written using German oral traditions. Fantastic tale of men battling monsters in Scandinavia. In it, Beowulf wants to help his father's friend who's been attacked by a monster. The most important concept is revenge (which is often seen from these Germanic tribes). It ends with the hero's burial after killing the dragon. It was passed down orally before it was written down. Uses In Media Res. Written in vernacular, not literary Latin.

Morality Plays

They extolled the virtues of conversion to Christianity and steadfastness in times of persecution and doubt. They were secular plays that reflected Christian values and were very popular in the Middle Ages. Rothswitha did many. Everyman was a Morality Play.

Romanesque Architecture

Romanesque architecture began around 1000. The Status of churches and the possibility of pilgrims depended on the importance of its relics. Many of these churches had arches, which were reminiscent of Romans. Autun Cathedral was Romanesque. Had radiating chapels at the end of the ambulatory, barrel vaults and arches, small windows towards the top. Characterized by heavy masonry, round arches, and relatively simple ornamentation. Used heavy stone arches and generous exterior decoration, mostly sculpture.

Fall of Rome

Rome is sacked in 450 CE. The part of Rome with money moves to Constantinople (modern day Istanbul). The empire was then in two halves. There was lots of tribalism in Europe at this time, as well as migration of groups like the Vandals and Lombards. The most intelligent people of the time went to monasteries. This period is known as the "Dark Ages".

Nave

The central aisle of a church, constructed for use by the congregation at large.

Feudalism

The dominant social system in medieval Europe from the ninth through the 15th centuries, in which vassals were granted fiefs--estates or property-- by their lords and were required to serve uner their lords in the event of war.

Gospel Book of Charlemagne

The manuscript illuminations in the Gospel Book of Charlemagne indicated that the artists were aware of the Roman style

Church of Saint Michael in Hildesheim

The most important architectural achievement of the Ottonian period was the construction of the Church of Saint Michael in Hildesheim, Germany, with its use of a crossing square and an alternate support system. It serves as basis for Romanesque architecture.

Vernacular

The native dialect or language of a region or country, as contrasted with a literary or foreign language.

Fenestration

The presence and arrangement or design of windows and doors in a building.

Monasticism

The style of life under religious vows in which a community of people shares an ascetic existence in order to focus on spiritual pursuits. Monasticism became widespread from the third century on, with monks and nuns forming communities under religious vows and adopting ascetic lives, but monastic lifestyles varied. In the sixth century, Saint Benedict set forth rules for monasteries to reform them and impose regular religious observance; the motto was "pray and work".